Challenges
of the district : Our research with local communities
Many people in Surguja live below the poverty line.
Malaria is very common in the district, but because of poverty,
people avoid taking medicines. This affects their health further.
Overall, health needs urgent government attention.
People still are illiterate.
Child marriage is still prevalent.
New agricultural equipments and technologies have not been introduced.
Surguja is rich in natural resources; still there are no industries
around. There are no other means of livelihood and unemployment
is a major crisis.
Lack of planning and implementations are causing these lapses and
our district is still backward.
Surguja is a tribal
district located in the eastern part of Chhattisgarh. On the positive
side, we are benefiting from the industrialization as well as
the coming up of two major thermal power plants. At the negative
end however is the fact that we are seeing increase in the number
of HIV cases, specially women. This happens because of the regular
movement of truckers in the region – four national highways
pass through the district. The health of the women and the future
generation is at risk.
Another major negative is the literacy rate, infact we stand
last in the State. The drop out rate for the primary class is
also very bad. Plus, about 25% to 30% of irrigation land is wasted
in the district.
Brief About Surguja
District
Location
Surguja district is located in the northern part of Chhattisgarh
State of
India.
Borders of Uttar Pradesh,
Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya
Pradesh States
are adjoining to the district. This district has over extension
between south-eastern part of Vindhyachal-Baghelkhand region
of peninsular India. It lies between 23o 37’ 25’’ To 24o 6’ 17’’ north latitude
and 81o 34’40’’
To 84o 4’40’’ east longitude 244.62 km long east to west
and 167.37 broad norths to south, this land has as area of about
16359 Sqr Km.
History :
The presence of various temples stone carvings and archaic remains
show the evidence of existence of this region before Christ(B.C.).
In 4Th B.C. Before the arrival of maurya dynasty,this
region was in the Lord of
Nanda clan. Before 3 B.C. this region was divided into tiny parts
and their headman after quarrel among
themselves. Then a Rajputa kings belongs to Rakshal clan
in palamu district (Bihar) attacked and taken in his control. In
1820 Amar singh was the Kings of Surguja state who had been crowned
as “Maharaja” in 1826. In 1882 Raghunath Sharan Singh Deo had taken
his control over Surguja state who
has been conferred as “Maharaja” by Lord Daffariu. After the contemporary
victory of India he established Edward Middle School, Post Office
,Telegraph Office ,Medical stores ,jail and courts in Ambikapur
capital of Surguja.
According to holy books Lord Rama had visited Surguja during his
fourteen years of "Vanwas" period. There are many places
in connection to epic of Ramayana. Many places are named after
Lord Rama, Laxmana and Goddess Sita, they are Ramgarh, Sita-Bhengra
and Laxmangarh. Verses of Poet Kalidas who wrote "Ramayan"
are found at the Sita-Bhengra cave.
Major
population comprises tribal population. Among these primitive
tribes are Pando and Korwa , who are still living in forest, the Pando tribes believes themselves as the member
of "Pandav" clan of epic Mahabharat. Korwa tribes believes to be member of
"Kauravs" of Mahabharata.
The Mahanadi
Basin :
This drainage system is called as southward river system . The
general slope of west Surguja is towards south and about 25% drainage
comes in this system. Southerly rivers of district are the Hasdo
and Gej, which forms the part of the Mahanandi Drainage System.
This drainage system is called as southward river system . The
general slope of west Surguja
is towards south and about 25% drainage comes in this system.
Southerly rivers of district are the Hasdo and Gej, which forms
the part of the Mahanandi Drainage System.
The Kanhar :
This river rises from Gidha-Dhodha
on the Khudia plateau in jashpur tahsil of raigarh district and flowing northward ,forms
the eastern boundary of district with palamau district of bihar
state. This river flows for 100 Kms in district. It is fed by
small tributaries – Suria,Chana,Sendur and Kursa on it's
left bank and Galphulla, Semarkhar, Riger and the Cherna nallah
on it's right bank .
A number of waterfalls are located along the track of the river.
Pavai fall near Kothali village (Balrampur) is of about 61 meters.
Hydro-electricity is proposed here since last two decades.
The
Rihand :
This river also referred as
Rend or Rehar , rises in the region south west of the Mainpat
plateau, which is about 1,100 meters above mean sea level, from
Matiranga hills. The river flows north roughly through the central
part of the district for 160 Kms. The Rihand and it's tributaries
form a fertile plain in
the central district stretching around Ambikapur
A medium irrigation
project is working on Ghungutta river, since 1981, near
Darima Air Strip under taken by World Bank ,Which is about
15 kms from Ambikapur . The Mahan is a perennial river ,on
which medium Multipurpose project is under consideration by Central
water Comission.
Climate
The climate of
district is characterized by a hot summer and well distributed
rainfall during the monsoon season. With its general monsoonal
character, the region according to thornthwait's classification
falls in the Tropical Thermal belt assigns it the grassland type
character.
According to trewartha's
classification the Surguja falls in AW class which is based on
temperature and vegetation. The symbol AW denotes Tropical Swanah
region. The chief feature of this climate is long dry period average
monthly temperature rising over 18 0C, through maximum
summer temperature may even go up to 46 0C. In winter
the temperature not go below 18 0C .The monsoon bring
sufficient rains. The chief determinants of climate in the district
are:
